THE PHARISEES REQUIRING A SIGN.

THE FEEDING OF 4,000 PERSONS.

Mark viii., 1-9.

25

IN those days there being again a great multitude and they not having any thing to eat, he called his disciples and saith to them, 21 have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and they have nothing they could eat: 3 And if I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint by the way and some of them are come from afar. 4And his disciples answered him, Whence can any one feed these with loaves here in a desert? 5And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. 6And he commandeth the multitude to recline on the ground: and having taken the seven loaves, he gave thanks, and broke, and gave to his disciples that they might set before them; and they set the loaves before the multitude. 7And they had a few small fishes: and having blessed these, he set them also before them. 8And they ate, and were filled and they took up of what was over of fragments, seven baskets.* 9And they were about four thousand :† and he sent them away.

THE REPLY OF JESUS TO THE PHARISEES REQUIRING A Matt. xvi. 1-4. At Magdala.

SIGN.

1 AND the Pharisees and Sadducees having come tempting, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 And he answering, said to them, [Evening having come ye say, Fair weather! for the sky is red; 3And in the morning, Stormy weather to day, for the sky is red and lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the sky, and can ye not discern the signs of the times ?] 4A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and no sign shall be given to it, except the sign of Jonah. And having left them, he departed.

There are two Greek words translated by the English word, basket; Kophinus was the Jewish travelling basket, and Spuris a basket or hamper for storage.

+ Matthew adds "besides women and children."

Tischendorf considers the words within brackets to be of doubtful authority. They are not in the two oldest MSS.,

S. and V.

C

26

THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES.

Mark adds viii. 12.

12AND having sighed deeply in his spirit, he saith, Why doth this generation seek a sign? Verily I say to you, There shall no sign be given to this generation.

THE CAUTION AGAINST THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES. Matt. xvi. 5-12. Bethsaida.

5AND the disciples having_come to the other side, forgot to take loaves. 6And Jesus said to them, Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 7And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have not taken loaves. 8 And Jesus knowing it said, Why reason ye among yourselves, O ye of little faith, because ye have not taken loaves? 9Do ye not yet understand, nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 11 How is it ye do not understand that I spoke not to you about loaves, but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees ? 12Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Mark viii., 14-21.

14 AND they forgot to take bread, and except one loaf they had nothing with them in the boat. 15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and the leaven of Herod. 16 And they reasoned with one another, saying, It is because we have no loaves. 17 And knowing it he saith to them, Why reason ye because ye have no loaves? Do ye not yet perceive nor understand? have ye your heart yet hardened ? 18Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember, 19When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say to him, Twelve. 20When also the seven among the four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they say, Seven. 21 And he said to them, Do ye not yet understand?

WHO WAS JESUS?

THE BLIND MAN AT BETHSAIDA IN DECAPOLIS. Mark viii., 23-26.

23 AND taking the hand of the blind man he led him out of the village; and spitting on his eyes, and putting his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw anything? 24 And he looked up and said, I see men, for I see them as trees walking. 25Then again he put his hands upon his eyes and he looked up; and was restored, and saw all things clearly. 26And he sent him to his house, saying, Enter not into the village.

WHO WAS JESUS CONSIDERED TO BE.

Matt. xvi., 13-20.

13AND Jesus having come into the parts of Cæsarea Philippi, asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is ? 14And they said, Some, John the Baptist and others, Elijah: and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. 15He saith to them, But who do ye say that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answering said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.* 17 And Jesus answering said to him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood did not reveal it to thee, but my Father in heaven. 18And 1 also say to thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20Then he charged his disciples that they should tell no man that he is the Christ.

THE PREDICTION OF HIS SUFFERING.

Mark viii., 31-38.

31 AND he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32And he spoke the word plainly. And Peter taking him aside began to rebuke him. 33 But he having turned about and looking

Mark says, Thou art the Christ. Luke says, The Christ of God. Matthew alone records the 18th and 19th verses.

28

THE TRANSFIGURATION.

on his disciples, rebuked Peter, and saith, Go behind me, Satan: for thou thinkest not the things of God, but the things of men. 34And having called the multitude with his disciples, he said to them, Whoever wisheth to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever will

save his life shall lose it; but whoever shall lose his life on account of me and of the gospel, shall save it. 36 For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? 37 For what can a 38 For whoever

man give in exchange for his life? shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; the Son of man also shall be ashamed of him when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Matt. xvi., 27-28.

27 FOR the Son of man is about to come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he will render to each man according to his work. 28Verily I say to you, There are some standing here, who shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Matt. xvii., 1-9. THE TRANSFIGURATION.

4And

1AND after six days Jesus taketh Peter, and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up on a high mountain privately. 2And he was transfigured before them; and his face shone as the sun, and his garments became white as the light. 3And, behold there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with him. Peter, answering, said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here if thou wilt, I will make here three tents: one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. 5 While he was speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I am well pleased; hear him. 6And the disciples having heard, fell on their face, and were greatly afraid. 7And Jesus came, and having touched them, said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8And having raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus alone. 9And as they came down from the

mount, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen from the dead.

Luke, ix., 28-36.

28 AND it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, that having taken Peter and John and James, he went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And it came to pass while he was praying the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment white and glittering. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him who were Moses and Elijah: 31 Who appearing in glory, spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32But Peter and they who were with him were heavy with sleep: but having awoke, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him. 33 And it came to pass, as they were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here and let us make three tents; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah: not knowing what he saith. 34While he was saying these words, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud. 35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my chosen Son, hear him. 36And when the voice had gone, Jesus was found alone. And they were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

10AND the disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? 11And he answering said, Elijah truly cometh, and shall restore all things. 12But I say to you, That Elijah hath already come, and they knew him not, but did with him whatever they wished. Thus also the Son of man is about to suffer by them. 13Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them about John the Baptist.

19AND he answering saith to them, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him to me. 20 And